Modifications in avoidance reactions of mice, on a second exposure to the hot plate, resist to various amnesia-inducing treatments.

The avoidance responses of mice exposed to the hot plate (55 degrees C) were found to be modified when tested a second time. In fact, when forepaws licking was no longer observed, the rearing was clearly anticipated (7 s instead of 15 s) as well as jumping (24 s instead of 55 s). These modifications of avoidance strategies as well as their latencies were still observed even 24 days after the first exposure.

Proerectile effects of apomorphine in mice.

Dopaminergic pathways play a key role in the central control of sexual behavior. Stimulation of central dopaminergic receptors elicits penile erection in a variety of species and has been proposed as a treatment option for erectile dysfunction in humans. The present study investigated the proerectile effects of apomorphine in mice.

Mouse lines differing in sensitivity to beta-CCM differ in tasks used for testing antidepressants.

Two lines of mice, previously selected for their sensitivity (BS) or their resistance (BR) to an anxiogenic benzodiazepine (BZ) receptor inverse agonist, methyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (beta-CCM), have recently been shown to present several differences in anxiety. In the present study, attempt was made to extend their behavioral profile in two situations classically used for testing antidepressant drugs. Reassessment of locomotor performance of these new populations confirmed that the motor activity of BR mice was lower than that of BS mice.